Attention Sir, I Have Your Heart Handcuffed!-Chapter 338 - 221: Our Game Is Still Continuing (2 Updates 1)
"Black Curtain" Editorial Center.
Xiong Jie’s assistant, Little Niu, was called into the office by Ali.
Ali questioned what their team had been doing recently, unable to produce any decent manuscripts, and even Xiong Jie had been missing for days.
Ali had several editorial teams under him, all competing for publication space. Even when Xiong Jie was around, it was uncertain if any article would make it to print each issue. Now, after days of her absence, the articles from her team were even less competitive.
Little Niu had to cover up: "She’s conducting an interview."
Ali sighed and said, "Her last piece that hinted at the Tang family had a great response, and she was in the limelight. Why not continue digging into that line instead of starting on other topics? It’s election season now, and digging into a candidate’s background is such great material!"
"Little Niu, you should get in touch with her and make sure she submits a piece related to the election by tomorrow. If she can’t, she doesn’t need to come back to work!"
Ali was known for being strict, focusing solely on the content of the articles without regard for the people. Little Niu got scared upon hearing this, knowing how important this job was for Xiong Jie, and hesitated before finally telling Ali the truth.
Ali, upon hearing the truth, was first stunned but then had a glint in his eyes!
"You said Xiong Jie was kidnapped, and you don’t know who did it, nor was she harmed, just detained with her mouth gagged?"
Little Niu nodded vigorously: "Yes."
Ali excitedly got up, pushed the chair away, walked to the window, pondered for a moment, and then clapped his hands: "It was Tang Mingyi’s men who did it!"
"How can you be sure?" Little Niu was also taken aback.
Ali let out a cold laugh: "Every kidnapping has a motive, be it money or desire, but Xiong Jie lost neither, which proves that the perpetrator wasn’t after her personally, maybe after her profession. As journalists, sometimes telling the truth offends people, so someone might want to warn Xiong Jie. You see, she was kidnapped but unharmed, proving the perpetrator just wanted to scare her; and gagging her mouth to prevent her from speaking is both a necessity of the kidnapping and also a metaphor, isn’t it?"
Ali stared at Little Niu, "This indicates the message the kidnappers wanted to convey through this is simple: Be careful, and don’t speak thoughtlessly."
Little Niu, eyes wide open, said, "So it really could be Tang Mingyi!"
Ali’s eyes rolled, and he let out another cold laugh: "And without any police involvement throughout the process, this further substantiates the Tang family’s suspicion. After all, the Tang family has high-ranking police officers, and Tang Mingyi’s son, Tang Yanqing, is a detective!"
Ali immediately decided: "I’m now making the call, saving tomorrow’s front page for your team. Go tell Xiong Jie to write me a brilliant piece, and let tomorrow’s front page be her big hit!"
Ali was overjoyed as he spoke. This kidnapping event had drawn the journalist, who was originally an observer, into the center, making Xiong Jie part of the news, thus enhancing the authenticity and impact of her article. This kind of opportunity is rare, and she would definitely utilize it well to produce a major feature that could maintain its heat for months!
Learning that Ali had reserved the front page for their team for tomorrow, Little Niu was excited but then felt despondent: "Boss, but Xiong Jie hasn’t fully recovered yet. Asking her to write now is a bit difficult."
Ali squinted at her: "How long until she recovers? A day, a week, a month, or a year? I’ve told you many times, the heat of the news is on a timer. If we don’t release the story now, what, wait until the primaries end next February, or until the dust settles in July? You tell me."
Little Niu lowered her head: "We don’t want this either...but Xiong Jie’s condition..."
Ali crossed his arms, staring sharply: "If she can’t write, then you write!"
"Me?" Little Niu was stunned.
She was a newcomer, just graduated and joined "Black Curtain," starting with assistant chores and wasn’t qualified to independently write articles or choose topics.
Ali fixed his eyes on Little Niu. The fleeting determination in Little Niu’s eyes made Ali smile smugly: "As a newcomer, most have to work as an assistant for three years at ’Black Curtain’ before going solo, but that destiny is not yours, Little Niu. You are the 1% lucky one because such an opportunity plopped right in front of you. If you choose to take it, and if your article can cause a huge stir, I’ll let you keep writing the following pieces, officially escaping the newbie’s fate. But if you’re timid, unable to rise, then remain a rookie, and endure your remaining time."
"However, I must tell you, even if you’re willing to endure the remaining time, I might not allow you to continue in mediocrity. We ’Black Curtain’ journalists must have sharp instincts and the courage and ability to seize opportunities. Such a good chance is in front of you, yet you hesitate, I have to question your capability in future work."
Little Niu’s face was flushing red and pale alternately, her fists clenched, palms sweaty. After listening to Ali, she finally nodded resolutely: "I’ll write it!"
Ali arched his brow high: "Then go back and write, what are you sitting around for?"
Little Niu got up, still struggling: "But this is Xiong Jie’s opportunity...how can I take it, and what if she blames me later?"
Ali sneered: "It’s her opportunity, can’t you ask her to speak about it? Consider it your interview too!"
"As for what happens to her later...Little Niu, I truly don’t care. We’re journalists, we care only about the timeliness of the news; journalists compete on speed, snatch resources, do you take this place for a welfare home, revering the old and cherishing the young? That’s a joke."
Little Niu’s expression indeed changed.
Ali leaned on the table looking at her: "Don’t forget how Xiong Jie bossed you around before. She never saw you as a student, but a potential rival. After all this time, she hasn’t sincerely taught you anything, only bossed you around, using your physical and mental effort to complete her articles. Ultimately, not to mention your name, even your shadow wouldn’t appear on that article."
Little Niu stood there, finally shutting her eyes tight.
"Boss, I’ll go back to write the article now. It might be rough since it’s my first major piece, so I’ll need you to guide me."
Ali smiled with satisfaction: "No problem. You go write boldly, send it to my email when you’re done, and I’ll personally revise it for you."
.
Shi Nian worked until noon and didn’t go to lunch with Ye He and Xiao Mai. Instead, she went out alone to the arranged restaurant. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Guan Liang was sitting inside, waving at Shi Nian.
Shi Nian quickly went over and sat down: "Mr. Guan, thank you for meeting me alone."
Guan Liang smiled mischievously: "If it gets out that I’m dating you alone, Mr. Tang would surely kill me."
Shi Nian blushed: "Let’s not talk about him."
Guan Liang was even more amused, watching Shi Nian’s expression: "Why didn’t you go to the police station to find me, and instead asked to meet alone? Afraid of running into Mr. Tang at the station, huh?"
"...Stop!" Shi Nian’s face was blushing furiously.
This Guan Liang was sly, and if he probed further, he’d understand everything.
— Indeed, after that night, she truly couldn’t face Tang Yanqing at the police station. She wasn’t sure if she could speak without embarrassment and was more worried about that guy doing something again in the station... That’s why she asked Guan Liang out alone.
Guan Liang sucked on the straw and smiled, smart enough to stop poking. After all...he knew this day would come, just feeling happy for them.
Shi Nian suppressed her blush and got to business: "Mr. Guan, could you help me check Xiong Jie’s background information, how’s it going?"
Guan Liang also became serious: "It’s not complicated, but quite poignant. Her parents divorced when she was five, felt she was a burden, and didn’t want her. Even though her relatives helped, deep down, they held resentment. While staying with some families, she even experienced neglect. There’s a social worker report to that effect... This has made her appear very independent, but she’s actually starved for security."
Shi Nian felt a pang in her heart: "I see, that’s why."
Realizing this, Shi Nian felt a stirring in her heart: "Another lonely child..."
Guan Liang also paused: "You’re right?"
Shi Nian nodded, a sense of clarity dawning: "Exactly, I’ve found another similarity between Xiong Jie and Rosa!"
.
[Second update of the morning~]
